Interlocking package for bearing assemblies



26, 1966 BUQK 3,247,955

INTERLOCKING PACKAGE FOR BEARING ASSEMBLIES Filed June 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FBGI ZQ MQ W A. LICK INTERLOCKING PACKAGE FOR BEARING ASSEMBLIES Filed June 5, 1964 2 sheet t 2 INVENTOR.

WET/fl? @50 6 Y jrw/ X wmmiw United States Patent ()fifice 3,247,955 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 3,247,955 HNTERLOCKING PACKAGE FUR BEARING ASSEMBLIES Arthur R. Buck, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Timken Roller Bearing Company, Canton, (Phio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 372,900 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) The present invention relates to means for packaging a preconditioned article or the like, and more particularly to packaging preassembled, preadjusted and prelubricated bearing assemblies on a temporary journal in a shipping carton.

In the past, bearing assemblies have been shipped from manufacturer to user by shipping several components separately. Later completed assemblies were packaged and shipped to users such as railroad car builders in a complete preassembled, preadjusted and prelubricated condition.

In particular, the present invention improves on the packaging techniques for preassembled, preadjustable and prelubricated bearing assemblies, and specifically is an improvement over U.S. Patent No. 2,950,002 granted to C. L. Eastburg assignor to The Timken Roller Bearing Company for packaged bearing assemblies. Throughout the specification herein when speaking of specific hearing assemblies and methods ofpackaging preassembled, preadjusted and prelubricated bearing assemblies on temporary journals, it will be understood that such bearing assemblies are the same as disclosed in the referenced patent.

Briefly, the invention herein is concerned with the shipping carton for packaging a bearing assembly such as heretofore suggested, in a preassembled, preadjusted and prelubricated condition on a temporary journal in a quickly assembled carton. The carton includes a bottom assembly which interlocks with a top assembly with a bearing assembly on the temporary journal encased therein with a sleeve surrounding the interlocked top and bottom assemblies to retain the interlocked state and complete the package or shipping carton.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to reduce the packaging and installation costs of bearing assemblies and to simplify the handling thereof by placing all parts required for each assembly in one container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a preassembled, preadjusted and prelubricated bearing assembly packaged at the manufacturer ready to be installed on an axle of a railroad car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of packaging completely assembled bearings in a carton in which the ends of the carton form side panels that interlock along edge flaps and are held against a bearing assembly by surrounding such panels with a sleeve.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of packaging a bearing assembly by placing the bearing assembly on an end panel which has integral side panels reverse folded at their outer ends to form interlock flaps, covering the assembly with a vapor controlled inhibitor paper, positioning an end panel assembly including a stabilizing element which has integral side panels reverse folded at their free ends to form interlock flaps over the bearing assembly, positioning the end panel to interlock with the end panel assembly at the interlock flaps of side panels, and then positioning a sleeve to retain the side panels in an interlocked fashion.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a packaging assembly for preconditioned articles comprising complementary end panels having integral side panels foldable against the article and interlocked together along complementary edge flaps with a sleeve surrounding the complementary end panels thereby retaining the complementary edge flaps interlocked and completing the package.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description and the claims in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the packaging carton and bearing assembly;

FIG. 2 illustrates, in perspective, the bearing assembly packaged with the sleeve partially encasing the interlocked top and bottom assemblies;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the completely packaged bearing ready for shipment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view, partly cut away, to expose the internal parts of the bearing assembly;

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective the bearing and end cap therefor assembled and about to be interlocked with in the carton assembly;

FIG. 6 illustrates in partially cut away perspective the sleeve being disposed around the packaged bearing and end cap; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the completely packaged bearing and end cap ready for shipment. 5 Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the interlocked package assembly will be described in detail with reference to numerals. Complementary top end panel assembly 10 has a ring at the top thereof 11 and includes side panels 12 and 13 which have reverse folded side flaps 14 and 15. The complementary bottom end panel 20 has side panels 22 and 23 which have reverse folded edge or wall flaps 24 and 25. A roller bearing 30 having a backing ring 31 is positioned on bottom assembly 20. Roller bearing 30 is provided on a temporary journal 32 which retains the internal components of bearing 30 and backing ring 31 in a preassembled, prelubricated and preadjusted condition. A vapor controlled inhibiting paper 34 is positioned about end cap seat 35 and then ring 11 is nested down on end cap seat 35 to hold paper 34 in position. At the same time that ring 11 is nested on end cap seat 35, edge flaps 14 and 15 of end panel assembly 10 are interlocked, respectively, with edge flaps 24 and 25 of the end panel 20. Sleeve 5 is then slipped over the assembly 10 and down around side panels 12 and 13 and then over side panels 22 and 23 to retain the completed packaged assembly generally designated 1 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Although there may be occasions-and times when only the main roller bearing and backing ring requires shipment to a user for replacement or otherwise, it may frequently be necessary to provide a complete bearing assembly including the end cap assembly. With reference now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, a bearing assembly similar to the packaged assembly depicted in FIGS. 1-3 will be described which includes the end cap necessary to be shipped under such circumstances as requires a complete railroad car bearing assembly.

FIG. 4 illustrates bearing-30 broken away to expose the internal portion of the roller bearing assembly. In the assembly the temporary journal 32 may be seen supporting inner races 44 and 46. The bearing has roller members '48 and 50, spacer member 51 and an outer race member 52. The end of outer race member 52 is provided with an annular groove 54, the cup undercut, which sealably receives an annular member 58, the seal and seal case. Theannular member 58 provides a chamber for annular seal 42. This, of course, provides cuter race 52 sealably yet rotatably engaging annular member 45, the seal wear ring, which is mounted on the temporary journal 32.

The bearing with its backing ring 31 mounted to temporary journal 32 is positioned on the bottom end panel which has side panels 61 and 62 defining edge flaps 63 and 64. A stabilizer panel is provided comprising spacer member 66 with stabilizer or element 67 attached thereto. An end cap 70 suitable for attachment to bearing 30 about end cap seat 35 is provided. End cap 70 is mounted to spacer 72 by bolts 71. The end cap is later assembled to the permanent journal for bearing 30 by bolts 71. A top end panel assembly is provided which has side panels 81 and 82 that in turn have edge flaps 83 and 84. A sleeve is also provided to surround the packages in a manner to be described. The vapor controlled inhibiting paper 34 is used to cover bearing 30.

After bearing 30 has been preconditioned, preadjusted and prelubricated, and temporary journal 32 has been installed, the bearing 30 is positioned with backing ring 31 on bottom end panel assembly. The V.C.I. (vapor controlled inhibitor) paper 34 is positioned over the end cap seat 35 of the bearing 30 and spacer 66 is positioned for element 67 to seat in end cap seat 35 with V.C.I. paper 34 interposed, thus providing vapor control to the internal portion of the temporary journal 32 and bearing 30. Next, end cap 70 is attached to spacer 72 by bolts 71 and is positioned seated on spacer 65. Another spacer not shown, that may or may not be contoured to fit around the heads of bolts 71, may be seated on top of bolts 71 and then top end panel 80 is positioned over the spacer (not shown) or directly on bolts 71 projecting from spacer 72. The side panels 81 and 82 are folded downwardly to meet upwardly folded side panels 61 and 62 of bottom end panel 60. To provide interlocking between top end panel 80 and bottom panel 60, edge flaps 83 and 84 are interlocked with edge flaps 63 and 64, respectively. Sleeve 90 is then slipped over end top end panel 80 to surround first side panels 81 and 82 and then also side panels 61 and 62. The sequence of interlocking edge flaps 83 and 84 to 63 and 64, respectively, is illustrated best in FIG. 5, and the encasement of end assemblies 80 and 60 by sleeve 9t) is best illustrated in FIG. 6. The completed package assembly generally designated is illustrated in FIG. 7.

It will be appreciated that although the package assembly appertaining to the invention is concerned mainly with bearingassemblies, such as that illustrated in the US. Patent No. 2,950,002 to Eastburg (referenced heretofore) which discloses the elements of a bearing, the transfer of such bearing from a temporary journal to a permanent journal and the various methods and techniques utilized in providing a railway car with an axle bearing, it is not limited to bearing assemblies.

The present invention has been described and disclosed with referenceto several embodiments which advantageously employ the packaging carton assembly of the invention, and such will suggest usefulness of the invention in a package for other preconditioned articles requiring careful handling and packaging to retain their ready to use condition throughout shipment; thus such embodiments are within the scope of the invention herein limited solely as necessitated by the scope of the appended Claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shipping package for a preassembled multiple part article to be transported in preassembled condition, the improvement which comprises: first wrapper means having a panel engaging the article, at least two side walls on opposite sides of said panel and folded to lie along the article, flaps on said side walls folded outwardly relative to the article; second wrapper means having a panel engaging the article at a location substantially opposite said first mentioned panel, at least two side walls on 0pposite sides of said second mentioned panel folded to lie adjacent said first mentioned side walls, flaps on said second mentioned side walls folded inwardly relative to the article and interengaged with said first mentioned flaps; and locking sleeve means slidably embracing said first and second wrapper means and retaining said engaged flaps against separation, said sleeve means and panels on said first and second wrapper means substantially fully enclosing the article.

2. The package set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve means is open at opposite ends and said panels on said first and second wrapper means forming closures for the opposite open ends of said sleeve means to complete the packaging of the article.

- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,840,677 1/1932 Miessler 22914 2,643,176 6/1953 Wachter et al 20646 2,794,588 6/1957 George et a1. 22914 2,887,264 5/1959 Fallter 22945 2,950,002 8/1960 Eastburg 206-46 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

W. T. DIXON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SHIPPING PACKAGE FOR A PREASSEMBLED MULTIPLE PART ARTICLE TO BE TRANSPORTED IN PREASSEMBLED CONDITION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: FIRST WRAPPER MEANS HAVING A PANEL ENGAGING THE ARTICLE, AT LEAST TWO SIDE WALLS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PANEL AND FOLDED TO LIE ALONG THE ARTICLE, FLAPS ON SAID SIDE WALLS FOLDED OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE ARTICLE; SECOND WRAPPER MEANS HAVING A PANEL ENGAGING THE ARTICLE AT A LOCATION SUBSTANTIALLY OPPOSITE SAID FIRST MENTIONED PANEL, AT LEAST TWO SIDE WALLS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED PANEL FOLDED TO LIE ADJACENT SAID FIRST MENTIONED SIDE WALLS, FLAP ON SAID SECOND MENTIONED SIDE WALLS FOLDED INWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE ARTICLE AND INTERENGAGED WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED FLAPS; AND LOCKING SLEEVE MEANS SLIDABLY EMBRACING SAID FIRST AND SECOND WRAPPER MEAN AND RETAINING SAID ENGAGED FLAPS AGAINST SEPARATION, SAID SLEEVE MEANS AND PANELS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND WRAPPER MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY FULLY ENCLOSING THE ARTICLE. 